]]>Stephani recently contributed to an article for Insider as one of the medical experts. The article discusses lesser known but effective ways to quickly stop a nosebleed. You can check out the full article here:

The times, they are a-changin’. Whether you produce a small, medium, or large event, having experienced on-site paramedics is something you should consider.

Peace of mind for you, your staff, and your guests

Having your own medical team on site at your venue means that you don’t have to handle emergencies or injuries that might occur because you have professionals for that. Do you use volunteer first aiders in exchange for reduced or free admission? It can be very difficult for a volunteer to function if they are called to assist someone they know in a specific community and the thought of doing so can cause significant emotional stress. Bringing in professionals eliminates both concerns and everyone’s happy!

Quality of staffing

Volunteers are often the lifeblood of many organizations and events but with a professional first aid or medical team onsite, you are guaranteed performance and quality. Elite medics show up on time, are sober, rested, and prepared, and aren’t distracted by all the fun things going on around them because they have one job and one interest: provide first aid and emergency medical care when necessary. Paramedics are highly trained in a variety of injuries and medical conditions and the management of such.

No stress about potential delayed ambulance response

Bad news… EMS/ambulance service in Alberta has changed in recent years. Timely response of an ambulance is no longer guaranteed, especially in rural areas or areas outside major cities. Ambulances from areas outside the major cities are frequently sent out of their service area and into the cities, sometimes for very long periods, which delays response times all over the province. Sometimes, you may experience an ambulance response delay right in the middle of a city! If you have an onsite EMS team, they can manage patient care and treatment for as long as it takes for a transport ambulance to arrive.

It shows you care about health and safety, and the people attending your event

It’s just good optics! Participants and attendees feel safer and better cared for when they see professional, trained medical teams on site. It’s nice to know what organizers care.

Elite paramedic teams are absolutely delightful

Ok, so this is a little bit more about us than about event medical in general, but it’s our blog! We carefully select our staff based on their training, but also on personality. Our teams are fun, friendly, and professional. Just ask any of our past clients or patients!

Onsite medical teams reduce involvement and strain on local resources

Let’s be honest: if your event requires emergency services to frequently respond to your venue, or if several guests end up going to the local hospital for assessment, it can be a burden on local resources and some municipalities become reluctant to issue permits to such events. Onsite medical teams can handle many minor injuries and conditions on scene and answer questions to save people going to the nearest emergency room to ask, “Is this infected?” or “Does this need stitches?” or “I have this weird rash…” and also prevent 911 calls for ‘unconscious’ people who are actually just enjoying a good nap. Many people don’t know what constitutes an emergency but an onsite paramedic team will not only determine a true emergency if one occurs, they can manage it until additional resources can arrive.

If you’re considering onsite medical personnel for your event, Elite Emergency Response can help you develop your safety and emergency response plan. Elite teams are scaleable from a single staff member for very small, private events up to large teams for special events with high attendance, high risk activities, or a venue encompassing a large or remote area. Feel free to get in touch through our contact form or by phone to have us answer all your questions about upgrading your event’s safety program to include onsite EMS personnel.

Heading to a music festival or other outdoor event and worried about the smoke? If you’re attending outdoor events this summer in Western Canada, you’re probably aware that the air quality is poor due to a large number of wildfires burning in British Columbia. This is also affecting the air in Alberta and even into Saskatchewan! The good news is that you don’t have to cancel your plans because of the smoke… We have some tips for you before you head out to the festivals!

1. When to call it quits

If you have a chronic breathing condition, such as asthma or emphysema, consider not attending an outdoor event in an area with poor air quality. (We know that nobody wants to hear it, but your health is more important than FOMO!)

2. What to pack

If you have prescribed medications such as inhalers for your breathing condition, make sure you take them with you to the event. If you’ve traveled to an out of town event and discover you’ve forgotten your inhalers, you can go to the nearest local pharmacy and in most cases, the pharmacist can prescribe you an inhaler to get you by until you return home.

Pro Festival Tip: This applies to most prescription medications!

3. Where to keep the goods

When packing your inhalers (and other meds) we recommend not burying them at the bottom of a suitcase or the dark abyss of a backpack. Instead, keep them easily accessible at all times and take them as prescribed.

4. Surgical face masks won’t help

N95 masks are designed to filter out particulates from the air but they work best when properly fitted. Many safety companies offer “N95 Fit Testing” which includes training on applying them properly. If you are part of a festival crew working outside, wearing an N95 mask can benefit you. If you’re an event organizer, consider holding N95 Fit Testing for your work crews and providing them with properly sized respirator masks. (Contact us if you would like more information on companies that offer the service!)

5. Stay hydrated!

Sure, water isn’t exciting and you’ve heard that you need to drink more water every day for as long as you can remember. We get it. But this really is super important because drinking water and staying hydrated will help reduce irritation to your mucous membranes and airways caused by the smoke in the air.

6. Avoid excessive activity outdoors

If you’re heading to a music festival, we know you didn’t want to hear that either. But that excessive activity causes you to breathe faster and harder, increasing the amount of smoke – and particulates – entering your body. Do your best to take it easy.

7. Smoke causing a sore throat?

Treat irritated throats with lozenges and hydration. Cough lozenges can help and we’re going to remind you again to drink more water. It really does make a difference!

9. Sore nose?

Using a saline nasal spray (not Dristan) or neti pot may help with nasal irritation.

Pro Tip: never use tap water with a neti pot. Nobody likes a brain amoeba.

10. Don’t add fuel to the fire

When the skies are smoky, your body is already taking in some interesting things. Consider avoiding or reducing things like smoking, vaping, etc. Your lungs and system already have a lot to deal with, so your capacity to cope with additional particulates is reduced.

If you have any questions about coping with poor air quality, feel free to get in touch. As the summer event season starts to wind down, we hope everyone has a safe and healthy time!

If you’ve decided to retain Elite Emergency Response for you onsite medical standby needs, there are several factors we’ll look at with you to make sure you get exactly the right coverage to meet your needs. Here are a few examples of things we consider:

Where is your event going to be located?

This lets us determine how far from the nearest ambulance service and hospital your venue is, and it lets us coordinate potential landing zones with STARS air ambulance should it become necessary during your event. We also consider any special access needs or difficult terrain that would need to be planned for.

How many people are expected on the site?

This includes event guests/attendees, volunteers, and other staff. We use these numbers to determine how many Elite Emergency Response personnel you need for your event to ensure safe and efficient coverage.

What type of event is it?

We classify events as low, medium, or high risk and this is reviewed each time a client renews our coverage agreement. Cultural festivals and food and drink events are examples of a low-risk event. Some athletic competitions or races, and equestrian events involving jumping or racing are typically classed as medium risk, and music festivals or extreme sports competitions in more isolated areas are high risks. High-risk events typically require more personnel and equipment, and we ensure high-risk events have our highest trained and most experienced staff.

What hours will the event run, and what hours do you want Elite EMS staff onsite?

This helps us determine our active staffing times, and many clients prefer to have Elite on the site for setup prior to an event opening to the public, and stay for part of the tear down after an event ends for the well-being of their staff and volunteers. The total hours also help us provide you with an accurate quote for the cost of our services, and determine if we will need to provide accommodations for our staff.

What special considerations do we need to be aware of and do you have special requests?

For example, does your venue lack cell service? Is cell service only available in certain areas, and where? Does your site have a potable water source? What types of injuries or emergencies has your event experienced before, if any? Do you want our staff highly visible or in the background? Would you like us to provide extra potable water, sunscreen, bug spray or other complimentary items to your guests? Or is your event about self-reliance and you would prefer nothing outside of necessary first aid and medical treatments be offered? We work with you to provide the best experience for your guests while seamlessly incorporating our services into the vision and philosophy of your special event.

Elite Emergency Response has a long history of providing EMS and first aid services to a wide variety of events in a collaborative way with event organizers. Call or contact us today to find out how Elite can help reduce your event planning stress and contribute to a safe and positive experience for your guests!